Keshi! Hey there! I’m “Ask Auntie.” It’s so great to meet you!

My name is Amanda. I was born in 1980. I’m from the Zuni Pueblo in NM and am from the turkey clan. Zuni is a matrilineal tribe (the women are the boss! Haha). My mom is the first-born daughter out of eleven. I am the only girl in my family, with three brothers.

I’ve been married since 2002. We have a son and a daughter that we are madly in love with and a chee-chew (dog) we call Rose-dawg.

My calling is to help Native youth know how awesome and special they are and to work with the adults who care and support them.

I have a bachelor and master’s degrees in education through Oregon State University. I was a teacher before coming to We R Native and have lived in Thailand, Ethiopia, and South Africa.

I feel so honored to have your trust in answering the questions you submit. I take each question seriously and do my best with the “Ask Your Relative” team to provide you with thoughtful, quality, accurate information.

Hi there, I’m cousin Asia 🙂 I am a new face to the Ask Your Relative family and will be doing my best to answer your sexual health related questions! I’m a mixed baby (Native, Japanese, and Irish) and a tribal member of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. I graduated from Oregon State University (go beavs) with a B.S. in Public Health, minor in Ethnic Studies, and emphasis on microbio. I am passionate about giving back/uplifting our community (especially our youth), because without ya’ll I would not be here today.

Things I’m good at:

• Blasting music out of my car
• Making impulsive decisions
• Being fairly organized
• Laughing (regardless of the situation)

Things I’m not good at:

• Riding elevators
• Saying no
• Folding + putting away laundry

Things I like:

• Jersey Shore
• Astrology
• Any water related activity (swimming, floating, watching the water, bubble baths, etc.)
• Fighting my lactose intolerance
• Hanging out with friends
• Vietnamese iced coffee

Hi! My name is Jane and I come from Winslow, AZ. My family is spread out all across the US, mostly in Alabama and Iowa. I graduated from the University of New Mexico – majoring in biology with dual minors in chemistry and flamenco. After a year assisting in a first grade classroom, I moved to South Dakota and taught high school science in Standing Rock at McLaughlin High School. After that I worked as the policy journalist for KINO, a small AM station broadcasting out of northern Arizona. My beat focused on Winslow, Hopi, and Navajo policy decisions and council meetings. And now I work as the outreach specialist for Healthy Native Youth.

I love hockey, story-telling, and local small town radio stations!

Hey, my name is Corey Begay, and I’m a graphic artist that works with We R Native and Healthy Native Youth. I am an enrolled member of Navajo Nation and have a B.A. in Visual Communications from Northern Arizona University. Before joining the team at We R Native, I was the Art Director for Salina Bookshelf, where I did graphic design work, web design and other visual media work.

I love painting murals, frisbee golf, and gardening!

Hey, my name is Maleah and I am a member of the Tlingit Nation from Wrangell, Alaska. I have a background in community and family resilience, and am passionate about creating systems where every individual, family, and community can thrive. I am a big sister to three amazing little monsters who keep me on my toes.

When I’m not at work, I love spending time crafting, participating in local activism, and wandering around in the great outdoors.

We R Native is for Native Youth to ask their relatives any questions that are on their heart. Type in your question and you’ll see related questions we’ve answered in the past. If none of these get to what you’re asking, submit it to Your Relatives. If you want to be notified when your answer is ready, leave your contact info.

Your question will remain confidential and we won’t share your contact info with anyone…though it may be published on the site. Just a heads up, we aim to answer 1-2 NEW questions per month. Check out answers that other Native youth have asked.

We care about how you are doing. Please note this line is NOT monitored 24/7. If you need immediate help, text “Native” to 741741 or dial or text 988 from any phone for free 24/7 support. Take care, Your Relatives

New “Ask Your Relative” questions will get posted to our WRN Facebook and Instagram channels and here on the website (Most Recent Questions) every Sunday afternoon. Sometimes we get a lot of questions and sometimes we don’t. When we do have a lot of submissions, we’re only able to answer 1-2 NEW questions per month. Check out our frequently asked questions.

We read all questions that come in, though we can only answer a few each month. We will always send our love and thoughts your way. By submitting a question, you agree that it may be published on the site. We try to answer 1-2 NEW questions per month. Check out our frequently asked questions.

We’re stoked that you’re reaching out for support. We care about how you are doing. Please note this line is NOT monitored 24/7. If you need immediate help, text “Native” to 741741 or dial or text 988 from any phone for free 24/7 support. You can also check out more Native Youth Support Resources here.

Take care!

Your Relatives,
Manda, Paige, Jane, Asia, and Corey

Here are the most common resources that we share for urgent requests:

• If you have an urgent sexual health question text NATIVE to 774 636. You will be directed to Planned Parenthood. You can chat online or text “NATIVE” to 774 636 to get answers.
• If you need immediate help with grief, anxiety stress, or sadness, text NATIVE to 741 741. The Crisis Text Line will connect you with a free Crisis Counselor with 24/7 support. Or you can dial or text 988 from any phone for free 24/7 support.
• If you are experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault, call, chat or text the StrongHearts Native Helpline. StrongHearts 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) is a 24/7 safe, confidential and anonymous domestic, dating and sexual violence helpline for Natives, offering culturally-appropriate support and advocacy.
• If you are an Indigenous survivor of violence or a family member of a MMIWG2, call or text Sovereign Bodies. Their support line is available 24/7 for both calls and texts, and can provide emotional support, access services, and referrals to healthcare and other services throughout the US and Canada. Call or text (707) 335-6263.
• If you are 2SLGBTQ – call, chat, or text the Trevor Project. Text START to 678 678 or call 1-866-488-7386. You will be connected to a crisis counselor 24/7, 365 days a year, from anywhere in the U.S. It is 100% confidential, and 100% free.